Court asks Andhra to preserve bodies of slain Maoists

Hyderabad, Oct 24 : The Hyderabad High Court on Monday directed Andhra Pradesh government to preserve the bodies of Maoists killed in a gun battle on the Andhra-Odisha border till October 27. The High Court of Judicature here for the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana gave this direction on a petition filed by a civil liberties activist.The court adjourned further hearing of the case to October 26. Over 20 Maoists and a police personnel were killed in an alleged exchange of fire between extremists and police in Malkangiri district of Odisha near the border with Andhra. The petitioner had sought comprehensive probe into the incident and action against the policemen involved as per Supreme Court guidelines about encounter killings.The state government informed the court that the incident occurred in Odisha and that bodies of slain Maoists were yet to reach Andhra.Stating that it cannot pass orders on the petition at this stage, the court directed that the bodies of the Maoists be preserved at King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam.